Archaeology Field School Description

In 2015, in conjunction with the Friends of Sturt Gorge, the Flinders University Archaeology Department will be conducting ARCH8807: The Advanced Archaeology Field School in Sturt Gorge, close to the Flinders University Bedford Park campus. ARCH8807 will involve the excavation of a nineteenth century ruin located beside Magpie Creek, about which little is currently known. The results from this excavation will provide insights into the construction and use of the cottage and the ways of life of its inhabitants.

Archaeology Field School Additional Information

Directors and Instructors

Dr Robert Stone. Bob is an experienced Classical and historical archaeologist who has worked extensively across the Middle East and Australia. His PhD was on the stately homes of South Australia, although previous research as part of a large ARC-funded project first recorded the stone house in Sturt Gorge.

Assoc Prof Heather Burke: Heather is an historical archaeologist with research interests in the archaeology of standing structures, social memory and the creation of cultural landscapes, as well as the public interpretation and presentation of heritage sites. She graduated with a PhD from UNE in 1996, and has worked on historical and indigenous archaeological sites throughout New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

Specialized skills you will have the opportunity to learn

This topic will help students to develop their knowledge of fundamental archaeological field methods. Specifically, this topic will involve learning about: • The process and methods of hand excavation; • Archaeological research design, sampling and the ethics of excavation; • The context system of excavation and the Harris Matrix; • Recording excavation and other archaeological data; • Artefact analysis and archaeological photography; • Drawing sections, plans and artefacts; • Sorting, sieving and cleaning artefacts.